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Centre of Excellence for Risk Analysis
Background
The Australian Government announced towards the end of 2004 that it would establish a research Centre of Excellence for Risk Analysis to build on and strengthen the integrity of Australia’s import risk analysis process.
The Centre will further develop Australian expertise in risk analysis research and the science underpinning risk assessment processes. The Centre will conduct research and develop state-of-the-art risk analysis methods for use by the Australian Government.
The Bureau of Rural Sciences (BRS) in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry was asked to manage the establishment of the Centre and to identify an appropriate host organisation.
Consultation Process
A comprehensive consultation process was undertaken with key stakeholders on the Centre’s objectives and structure. Comments received from stakeholders were used to inform planning the Centre’s operations.
The Centre is hosted by the University of Melbourne
The Australian Centre of Excellence for Risk Analysis (ACERA) was established in the School of Botany at the University of Melbourne on March 1st, 2006.
Of the 11 quality submissions to host the centre received from a call for expressions of interest, the University of Melbourne was chosen in a process managed by the Australian Bureau of Rural Sciences.
The centre will be led by Professor Mark Burgman, one of Australia’s leading environmental risk experts.
New research to strengthen biosecurity safeguards - Media release by former Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
About the Centre of Excellence for Risk Analysis
The Centre will develop the practice of risk analysis by creating and testing methods, protocols, analytical tools and procedures.
The objectives of the Centre are to:
- research and develop state-of-the-art risk analysis methods across areas of interest to the Australian community. An early priority for the Centre will be the biosecurity risks confronting Australia
- engage the range of skills and sciences relevant to the analysis of risk, to ensure that Australia remains at the forefront of practical risk assessment. These skills and sciences would include mathematics, statistics, biophysical sciences, socio-economics and the sciences relevant to the communication and perception of and response to risk
- document and communicate research findings to ensure governments and others engaged in risk analysis have access to state-of-the-art risk analysis methods and raise the community’s understanding of risk
- work to promote excellence in risk analysis in Australia
- work with the government in influencing international standards in risk analysis.
While the initial priority for the Centre will be researching methods for analysing the biosecurity risks associated with imports, it is anticipated that the Centre will research and develop state-of-the-art risk analysis methods for use by the Australian Government in its areas of interest and the broader Australian community.
The Centre’s funding agreement is managed by the BRS in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Federal Government and partner contributions, including from the University of Melbourne, the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute and the Australian Research Centre for Urban Ecology, provide funding of close to $2 million per year until June 30, 2009.
The Centre is a research network including initially the University of Queensland, the University of New South Wales, Monash University and the CSIRO. It will draw on expertise throughout Australia and overseas.
Further information on the Centre and its research programs can be found at the Australian Centre of Excellence for Risk Analysis website.
2004-2005 Research Program
Two risk analysis research projects were funded by the Department in 2004-05 in the name of the Centre to address current priorities:
- A review of the methodologies for consequence analysis; and
- Technologies for building and running risk models.
The Technologies for building and running risk models building project was undertaken by a consortium of consultants led by Murdoch Link (Murdoch University School of Engineering, Strategic Systems, Dept of Ag WA and Vose Consulting) The objectives were:
- To develop an appreciation of the issues and needs of DAFF for risk analysis and modelling techniques
- To identify and assess a range of tools for risk analysis and modelling that might be suitable for DAFF
- To compare and contrast a small set of tools that might potentially meet the needs of DAFF and its domain of application, its IRA Panels and stakeholders
- To prepare a set of findings for DAFF for the use, effectiveness and applicability of these tools, and to identify areas where further R&D effort might be required to meet current, future or extended needs.
The final report can be accessed from the BRS shop in pdf format:
Further information on the Centre of Excellence for Risk Analysis can be obtained from:
Centre of Excellence for Risk Analysis
Bureau of Rural Sciences
GPO Box 858
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Ph: (02) 6272 4744
Fax: (02) 6272 4747
Email: Risk Centre